Translations
Modern
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
Traditional
And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
Literal
And they did not thirst in the deserts when He led them; He made flow the waters from the rock for them, and He split the rock, and the waters gushed out.
Latin
Non sitierunt in deserto, cum educeret eos: aquam de petra produxit eis, et scidit petram, et fluxerunt aquæ.
Original
Hebrew
English
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
Notes
not thirst … rock … water gushed out: These reminders of God’s provision in the exodus provide a fitting summary of what he would do to rescue Israel from captivity in Babylon (see Numbers 20:11).
This final trial speech reviews the arguments of Isaiah 40–48 and presents the final conclusion.
The Lord urges Israel to abandon its long history of rebellion and pay attention to his words. In Hebrew, the word for listening often means the same as obeying or acting on what is heard.
We can draw two conclusions from the earlier evidence that the Lord alone is God:
Babylon's great pride is foolish (Isaiah 47:1–15);
Israel should listen to the word of the Lord (Isaiah 48:1–22).
Theme notes and profiles
Isaiah God’s Servant Salvation in Isaiah The Promise of a Second Exodus